Simply Irresistible - Lauren Landish Page 0,2

it feels like to be desired again, even if it's by a horny guy looking to land his next lay. Yeah, that had to be it. I wanted a boost of confidence.

At five foot four, with green eyes, long blonde hair and a voluptuous figure, I’ve gotten enough compliments to know that I'm not bad-looking, maybe even pretty. But Zach’s cheating had been a blow to my self-esteem. I mean, if I was so beautiful, why did he feel the need to cheat on me?

Stop it, I tell myself, something I do every time I find myself falling into the trap of internalizing my ex’s actions. Zach cheated because he was a narcissistic asshole that only cared about himself. It had nothing to do with my looks.

It's a mantra I repeat frequently to keep myself from getting depressed. Lately though, I've been having trouble believing it.

“Are you kidding me?” I demand. “You’re really going to act like you weren’t bugging me all damn week to come out and have some fun?” I look at her like she’s lost her mind. “I think your exact words were, ‘Your face is starting to look like cracked asphalt because of the perpetual scowl you’ve had on your mug for the past month.’”

“You still didn’t have to come,” says Katie defensively. “And your face was starting to look like cracked asphalt.”

I roll my eyes. “Get real. If I hadn't come I would’ve never heard the end of it.” I put my finger to my lips and make a thoughtful expression. “Hmm, what was one of the arguments you were using to blackmail me to be your partner in crime? Oh yeah, that’s right, 'I’m going to be so pissed off at you Maddy, if you don’t come get shitfaced with me before we move into our new condo together.'”

“I did not say that.”

I glower. “Yes, you did.”

Placing her hands on her hips, Katie scowls back at me and admits, “Okay, maybe I did. Now what?”

“Nothing. Just letting it be known that I had no choice in the matter if I didn’t want to deal with a pissed off diva for the next couple of weeks.”

“I am not a diva!” she wails.

“Tell that to Vanessa! She's the prissiest person I know, and even she knows you’re a diva!”

“Vanessa is a cat!” Katie protests.

“That’s my point exactly.”

“Ugh, whatever. I just don’t know why you’re giving me so much grief over this. What’s so bad about me wanting you to come out and interact with the opposite sex for just one night, huh?”

I fall silent for a moment as the line moves up. We’re only a couple of feet from being let inside the club, and I have to admit I’m feeling a little excited. “I don’t know,” I say finally. “I guess I’m still not over Zach.”

Katie shakes her head, her bob swishing to the side. “You’re crazy. Why wouldn't you be over that ego-inflated douchebag?”

“I don’t mean him per se, I mean what he did.”

Katie frowns. “Oh. I understand... but we talked about that, remember? We agreed that Zach was an asshole who never cared about you, you were better off without him, and that you wouldn’t let what he’d done bother you anymore.”

“I know, Katie, and for a while I didn’t let it get to me... but... I… lately I’ve been feeling like I’ll never be able to trust guys again,” I confess reluctantly.

“Who says you have to trust a guy to fuck him?” she replies with a shrug.

“Katie!” I object in horror.

Katie makes an innocent face. “Wha?”

“I’m not here for that!”

“Why not? Your muffin has cobwebs.”

I cross my arms over my chest and threaten, “I’m going to leave.”

Katie lets out a wild laugh at my exasperation. “I’m just playing! Sort of. You know, just because Zach cheated on you, doesn’t mean you can’t have a sexual relationship with someone.”

“It does in my book. Besides, I’m not one to sleep around.”

Katie snorts. “Why sell yourself short? There’s nothing wrong with having sex with someone, no strings attached. Then you don't have to deal with all the bullshit that comes with a relationship, like what happened between you and Zach.”

Katie has a point. Since Zach, I’d sworn off sex and probably would remain celibate for years to come. Why deny myself the simple pleasures in life because of the actions of one heartless bastard? What harm could come from fulfilling a primal need from time to time?

Because I want it to be special, I tell